Wave actuated air compressing apparatus and process



D. FLETCHER ET AL June 13, 1950 WAVE ACTUATED AIR COMPRESSING APPARATUS AND PROCESS s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1948 IZeZcker INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

June 13, 1950 D. FLETCHER 517 AL 2,511,705

WAVE ACTUATED AIR CUMPRESSING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Dec. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. I'letcker Q J11. SZinaon a gray INVENTOBS ATTORNEYS.

June 13, 1950 D. FLETCHER ET AL 2,511,705

WAVE ACTUATED AIR COMPRESSING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Dec. 29, 1948 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J 114321709010 C. Gray ,INVENTORS I BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WAVE ACTUATED Amcolvrrmissmc- APPARATUS AN'D'PBQCESS Dean Fletcher, Wildomar, and John H. :Stinsonand Charles .Gray, ElsinoreyCalif.

Application December 29, 19518; Serial No; 67,982

-1 Claim.

This invention-relates to improvements in wave actuated air compressing apparatus, the primary object of the invention being to provide an improved wave actuated air compressing apparatus of the float type, which will utilize the force ofi the waves of the-body of water on which the device operates.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wave actuated air compressing apparatus which is highly eificient in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the improved wave actuated air compressing apparatus, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved wave actuated air compressing apparatus illustrating two of the pontoons and compressors.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the improved air compressing pump actuated float.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in section, showing the improved air compressing pump, the view being taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical fragmental sectional view through a pontoon or float illustratin the cushioning means of the compressor, the view being taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a pair of barges arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other, the barges being connected by upper and lower-transversely disposed channel bars 6 and 1 respectively, whereby the barges are maintained in proper spaced relation with respect to each other.

Secured to the upper channel bars 6 and extending inwardly from points adjacent to the the pontoon floats will receive the full force of" portant part of the invention. these units are identical, and since the number outer ends of'the' channel bars, are inclined supports 8,- which-supports are bolted to the frames Q'which embody spaced channel bars In having theiropen sides disposed inwardly providing tlaClKsythelOWel ends of the channel bars 9 being connected with the I-beams II that extend from the bottoms of the barges, providing sup- 'ports'for the lower ends of the frames 9.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings we have shown a plurality of compressing units .iorming an im- However, since o un ts may be varied to meet the requirements ofuse, only-one of. these units will be described in detail.

Eachunit embodiesa drum-like pontoon l2, which is. of alength to fit. between the inner surfaces. .of. the inclined. parallel channel bars it .qffthe frame in which it moves, upper and lower shafts I 3 being secured. to the pontoon dire tly opposite to each other, on which the wheels M. are mounted, the wheels being disposed ,at the ends of the shafts to run on the flanges of the channel bars 10, guiding the pontoon in its movement along the channel bars.

At the upper side of each pontoon are spaced ears I5 to which the piston rod I5 is pivotally connected, the piston rod operating within the cylinder I! of the compressor which is mounted within openings formed in the supporting bars I8 and I9 that extend between the channel bars l9. As shown, the upper end of the cylinder I'I extends beyond the supporting bar I 9, to which end is connected a flexible tube or hose 20, that in turn connects with the pipe 2| that leads into the compression tank 22.

Extendin into the upper end of the cylinder I1, is the cylindrical valve chamber 22' having the valve seat 23 against which the valve 24 seats, the valve 24 being held to its seat by means of the coiled spring 25, that is secured around the valve stem 26 which in turn operates through an opening formed in the cross bar 21. The piston 28 is mounted on the upper end of the piston rod "5, and on its suction stroke, operates to draw air into the cylinder I! through the valve 24, the valve being unseated by the suction created by the piston 28. An inlet pipe 29 connects with the cylindrical valve chamber 22 and through which air enters the valve chamber.

Directly above the piston 28, and disposed at a point approximately at the limit of the compression stroke of the piston, is a valve chamber 30 having a valve seat 3| against which the valve 32 operates, the valve 32 seating on the suction stroke of the piston 28. This valve 32 will move to its open position during the compression stroke of the piston, to allow air to be forced through the valve chamber 30 and into the end of the cylinder above the supporting bar IS. The tension of the spring 33 will under normal conditions, act to return the valve 32 to its closed position.

Arranged Within each of the channel bars Ill at opposite sides of each frame, are cushioning members 34, each of which comprises an upper stationary plate 35 held in position by means of the brackets 36 that are adjustable longitudinally of the channel bars [0, by means of the bolts 31 that pass through openings of the brackets and are held within any one of the openings 38. Since these openings are arranged with respect to the movements of the pontoons, it will be seen that by adjusting the stationary plate, the tension of the springs 39 will contact therewith. These springs 39 are coiled around the pins 40 that have their lower ends threaded and disposed in threaded openings of the blocks 4|, the blocks 4| being formed with curved lower edges to receive the curved edges of the wheels l4, relieving the entire structure of undue strain which would ordinarily be directed thereto by the movement of the pontoons to the limits of the upward and downward positions. It will thus be understood that a spring cushioning device 34' is used at the lower ends of the channel bars I!) for contact by the rollers of the lower sides of the pontoons, when they move downwardly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, we have provided an air compressor embodying one or more cylinders and pistons, th pistons being operated by the vertical movements of the pontoons which in turn move with the waves for moving the pistons for compressing air in their cylinders as described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A wave-operated compressor comprising spaced 4 floating supports, transversely disposed bars connecting the supports, inclined supports rising from the transversely disposed bars, a rectangular frame mounted between the supports and secured thereto, said frame embodying channel bars having their open sides disposed inwardly providing tracks, said tracks extending between the spaced floats, a pontoon mounted between the spaced channel bars, shafts extending across the pontoon, wheels mounted on the ends of the shafts and movable along the channel bars, guiding the pontoon in its movements, a cylinder mounted within the frame, a piston operating within the cylinder, 2. rod connected with said piston and having pivotal connection with the pontoon whereby movement of the pontoon operates the piston within the cylinder compressing air in the cylinder, valves controlling the passage of air to and from said cylinder, a storage tank, a pipe connected with the cylinder and storage tank whereby air is compressed in the storage tank by said piston operating within the cylinder, cushioning members disposed within the channelbars and engageable by said wheels whereby movement of the pontoon is restricted and said pontoon being so constructed and arranged for movement by contact with waves moving thereunder,

DEAN FLETCHER.

JOHN H. STINSON. CHARLES GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 748,757 Langstroth Jan. 5, 1904 817,318 Hazel Apr. 10, 1906 1,105,249 Bustos July 28, 1914 

